RESIDENTS in a Southampton community are calling for civic chiefs to protect a well-used footpath in their plans to build homes on a former school.

The proposals for more than 100 homes on the Oaklands School site in Lordshill will go before planning chiefs on Tuesday (June 23).

The school, which only opened in September 1982, closed in 2012 with its students transferring to the new Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill.

It has since been knocked down and the city council is looking to sell the site for housing.

Authority chiefs had instructed consultants Capita to bid for outline planning for the site, which would make it easier to market to potential buyers.

Some money raised from the sale will go back into the council's coffers to replace some of the £1.7m spent on refurbishing the nearby Oaklands Community Pool.

The application set to go before the planning and rights of way panel is for 62 flats and 41 houses, as well as 165 car parking spaces.

Any developer that buys the site would likely change the plans in any bid for full planning permission, which is required before any work takes place.

Sixteen objections have been lodged with the council against the plans, with some residents concerned of the proximity of new homes to Orkney Close and saying they would overlook some homes in Rockall Close.

Ward councillors Don Thomas and Keith Morrell appealing for the plans to be changed to create a new drop-off car park for parents dropping children off at the nearby Fairisle Junior School.

Residents in Fairisle Road, Orkney Close and Malin Close threatened to blockade the road against parents on the school run due to the ongoing issue of cars being parked on the streets.

Some residents are also concerned that the plans would see a well-used footpath off Orkney Close made smaller and a gate installed which only certain residents could use.

Currently, residents say it is a popular route for residents, and particularly youngsters and elderly people, to cut through and avoid having to negotiate busy main roads.

Orkney Close resident Jenni Ward, 30, said: "Our concern is about them taking the path away and there are lots of elderly residents and school children who use it.

"Old people on the estate can use it to go to Sainsbury's without crossing any roads and it is safer for them."

Cllr Thomas said: "We must defend our bridleways, they are an integral part of the overall design of our housing estate, pathways and cycle ways snaking from end to end all to help the young and old alike avoid the main busy highways and of course to encourage walking and cycling."

They have called on the council to redraw the plans to maintain the current footpath.